19 April 2022
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Te Ahi Tupua sculpture repainting
Enquiry
I've just seen this post on Facebook [re painting work starting on sculpture and tunnel users warned to take extra care when passing through].
Can you please confirm for me the following?
- How much will it cost in total for the repainting work during the next couple of months?
- Was this budgeted for in the original cost?
- Was it expected it would need repainting so soon?
- Will it have to be repainted every couple of years?
- Why has the current paintwork not lasted longer?
Can you please get back to me before 3pm?
Thank you.
I just read this story again of Felix's and it says in there it will need repainting every seven years? Has something changed?
Response
The following information was provided:
If you need to attribute you can attribute to Marc Spijkerbosch, Rotorua Lakes Council Community Public Arts Advisor.
There is no cost to Rotorua Lakes Council.
An issue was noted by Kilwell during annual inspection and wash down. Our understanding is that it is an issue with the paint itself.
You would need to speak with Kilwell for further detail/info. We’ve let them know you may contact them.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Information relating to potential to use reserve land for housing
Enquiry
I'm doing a follow up story to Felix's article in Saturday's paper about the proposal to turn reserves into housing.
This morning I have spoken to High Street residents who was devastated.
For the sake of balance, I have written my notes below. Not everything they are saying is critical of the council but I've put it all there for the sake of context. Can you let me know if the council would like to respond to any of the following comments?
This story is running tomorrow. Would you be able to let me know by 2.30/3pm?
Cheers
**
Rotorua nurse Pauline Gunn said news of the council's plans had devastated her. As she started to talk to the Rotorua Daily Post about it, she began to cry.
"I'm broken. I brought this house 10 years ago and one of the reasons was this (the reserve)."
She described it as a "quick fix" but not the right fix.
She said she lived by herself and worked shift work coming and going at all hours of the night and had always felt safe but feared that could change.
"It just broke me. I work really hard and what will I get? Social housing on my front yard ... I pay a s**t load of tax and this is going to pay for my neighbourhood to be ruined ... Honestly it is heartbreaking."
She said it was seriously making her reconsider her future as it topped off ill-feelings on top of pay woes for nurses.
"I moved here when I was 11 from Auckland. I've come and gone but I always come back. We have always been staunch supporters of Rotorua and how amazing it is here but now, do I take all this money I earn and taxes I pay and go to Australia? I've never felt so undervalued in my life, I really contribute to this community."
Her neighbour, Richard Lumsden, said he moved to Rotorua two years ago for the mountain biking lifestyle and buying a house that overlooked a reserve meant he could live in a "lovely little area".
He was worried the vibe of the area would change.
With a background as an arborist and landscaper, he said it was sad to think a council could sell off a public reserve for housing.
"It's short-sighted I think. We 100 per cent need housing but surely you don't have to sell off public reserves. You don't get it back once it's gone
He said he could understand the council's needed to have "secret" meetings about their plan because they needed to firm up their ideas behind closed doors before going to the public.
However, he'd like to think the public would have an opportunity to have a say at some stage.
He said New Zealand was in the middle of a housing crisis but he was worried Rotorua was carrying too much of the burden for housing homeless from elsewhere.
"When I move here two years ago, there wasn't that level (of homelessness) here."
He said the Ranolf St and Malfroy Rd Kāinga Ora housing development made complete sense and was in the right area.
"Everyone has to agree we need to do something. No one wants to see these people going homeless, we are better than that as a country but are they modelling this for locals or what is shipped in as well?"
Julie Askes, who lives directly next to the High St Reserve, said she wasn't happy and estimated her house had already gone down in value by $100,000.
She feared for the nearby kindergarten and the disruption of her quiet and peaceful outlook.
"How can the council sell a reserve?"
Askes said she had planned to sell her house later in the year and move to Waihī.
"I was born and bred in Rotorua and I came back four years ago. I would have my shoulders back and head high proud to say that I have moved back to Rotorua but now I want out of here."
She said she would try to fight it alongside her neighbours.
"Why do they need to take the green spaces. They are killing Glenholme as it is, it's not what it was and people are scared to live in Glenholme."
Response
From Jean-Paul Gaston, DCE District Development:
No decisions have been made. If there were a formal proposal for consideration residents would be informed and would have the opportunity to make submissions.
Council forums for elected members are part of due diligence prior to finalising and presenting formal proposals for decision-making and/or consultation and information can change between forums and presentation of proposals for consideration.
Housing is a priority in Rotorua’s 2021-31 Long-term Plan and all potentially viable options would be considered as part of ongoing work on multiple fronts to address the district’s critical housing shortage.
Any decisions around potential sales of council land would have to comply with Council’s open spaces policy which, among other things, prescribes the quality and quantity of reserves.
ADDITIONAL NOTE TO REPORTER: You’ll find the Open Space Levels of Service Policy HERE on Council’s website.